BARIPADA: The political scenario in Sarashkana constituency has intensified as both the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gear up for a showdown in the upcoming elections.
Debasish Marandi, nominated by BJD, and Bhadav Hansdah, backed by BJP, emerge as the major contenders, each with a robust support base and extensive political experience.
The BJD announced Marandi’s candidacy, purportedly due to lobbying within the party ranks. The former chairperson of the Special Development Council (SDC) in Mayurbhanj district, Marandi aims to leverage his tenure’s accomplishments to win in the polls.
His nomination also underscores the party’s faith in his leadership and public service track record.
His opponent, Bhadav Hansdah, recently defected from BJD to join BJP, and began a vigorous campaign following his party nomination. BJP’s decision not to field incumbent MLA Bhudhan Murmu reflected the party’s strategic shift, placing its bets on Hansdah’s popularity and grassroots reach.
Political observers anticipate a fierce contest between the two heavyweight candidates, fuelled by their parties’ backing and personal prowess in mobilising voters.
In Marandi’s previous electoral bid for the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat in 2019, he narrowly lost to BJP’s Bishweswar Tudu. While Marandi had got 4,58,556 votes, he lost by a margin of 25, 256 votes.
Thanking Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and BJD leaders’ endorsement for his candidacy, he emphasised his commitment to tribal development and social inclusion initiatives.
“I have done a lot of work for the development of tribals and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) for 10 years. Skill development among tribal youths, preservation of tribal cultures, art, tradition and refurbishment of their religious spots (Jahiresthan) across the district were successful due to the CM who formed the SDC,” he said adding that he will give priority to development of people in Sarashkana constituency.
Conversely, Hansdah alleged mismanagement under SDC’s purview, citing instances of poor-quality infrastructure and neglect of tribal shrines. “The dilapidated condition of the tribal shrines speak a lot about their development, so the voters of the constituency want me as the MLA,” he asserted and alleged that nearly five villages located on Odisha-Jharkhand border are neglected in healthcare, road, water, education and electricity due to the apathy of the state government.
With promises to address local grievances and prioritise ongoing development projects, both candidates seek to sway the electorate’s favour.